Pack, other former Senators, making an impact at Nassau CC

But the dynamic running back left a lasting impressive by making a slew of big plays two years ago.

Now Pack is starting to put up the same kind of numbers at Nassau (N.Y.) Community College.

Pack piled up 319 all-purpose yards last week as the fifth-ranked Lions knocked off No. 2 Trinity Valley (Tx.), 66-56, in the Battle of the Valley Kick-off Classic.

Former Dover High running back Marcellus Pack is now playing at Nassau Community College. (Delaware State News file photo).

The sophomore scored on a 91-yard kickoff return and an 87-yard run from scrimmage, finishing with three touchdowns in the victory, which snapped Trinity’s 21-game winning streak.

“He’s an impact kid, no question about it,” said Nassau coach Joseph Osovet. “Last year it took a little bit of finding where he was going to fit in. … We knew going in he’d be an impact kid, we just had to find the right spot for him.”

Pack, though, is hardly the only former Senator making an impact for the Lions. There are five Dover plays on the roster, including Pack, linebackers Deon Wright, Devlin Locklin and Daryl Coverdale along with defensive lineman Michael Hurd.

Osovet said he’s had a good working relationship with Senator coach Dante Jones.

“I hold Coach Jones’ opinion in high regard,” said Osovet. “He knows what it takes to play for our program. They’re all not only good football players but good kids who know how to do things the right way.”

Wright, who is also in his second year at Nassau, has excelled at linebacker. He was an all-conference player last fall when the Lions went 10-0 and won the Valley of the Sun Bowl in Arizona.

Wright wears jersey No. 18, which holds a place of honor on Nassau’s defense.

“It’s a big deal at Nassau,” Osovet said about the jersey. “It’s rich in tradition. … We’ve always said we’re going to give 18 to the person we think is going to make the most significant impact on defense.”

Osovet said he’s confident that both Pack and Wright will earn scholarships to four-year programs. He expects Pack to get an offer from UAB’s resurrected program while he thinks Wright will have five to seven scholarship offers when it’s all said and done.

Locklin, Coverdale and Hurd, who was at Delaware State for a year, still have another season at Nassau after this. But Locklin already made a name for himself in the victory over Trinity Valley when he recorded six tackles to be named the Lions’ special teams player of the week.

Osovet said he’d be happy to keep getting players from Dover.

“Having Pack and Wright here and flourishing, the kids from Dover looked up to those kids, I guess, and came here,” he said. “They’ve stepped right in and done everything we’ve asked so far. Let’s keep the Dover pipeline going.”

Another chance

Pat Devlin was helping out at a high school football practice in Downingtown, Pa. on Tuesday when the Cleveland Browns called.

Needless to say, the former Delaware quarterback made time to take the call.

By Wednesday, Devlin was with the Browns after being signed as a free agent. Cleveland is short-handed at QB because Johnny Manziel is sidelined with an elbow injury.

“I’ll tell you tomorrow,” Devlin joked with reporters when asked how he was adjusting to playing again.

“I’m sore. I’ve been trying to stay in shape at home and working out. All the little stuff that you do prepares you to come in and step in and do what you need to do.”

Devlin has also been with the Dolphins, Vikings and Bears since leading the Blue Hens to the NCAA Division I FCS national championship game in 2010. This latest stop is a chance for him to keep his foot in the NFL door.

“I’m just trying to learn the playbook and come out here and steal some reps and try to get better,” said Devlin.

Still in the game

Tierra Hawkins, the former Delaware State women’s basketball standout, is continuing her career far from home.

She recently signed to play professionally for esch Luxembourg in the Total League in Europe.

“I didn’t believe this would happen, but I’m very excited,” Hawkins was quoted on DSU’s website. “I wish I could start playing right now because this is something I always wanted to do.”

With the Hornets, she was one of only two players in program history to finish in the top 10 in career points (1,759), rebounds (827) and blocks (72).

Hawkins’ twin sister, Tianna, a member of the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, has played in both China and Hungary. She told Tierra it was a good experience but she should be prepared to be homesick.

“We actually went down the list and I did some research about the different countries,” said Hawkins. “I really liked one team, which is the team out of Luxembourg.

“It’s just like going to high school or going to college — adjusting and stuff like that. I feel like I’ll adjust well.”

Odds & ends

Former Caesar Rodney High basketball star Laron Profit gave a talk to the district’s personnel at CR’s school year-opening breakfast on Friday. Profit is an assistant coach in player development for the Orland Magic.

Kaitlyn Stahre, who played both varsity field hockey and softball as a freshman at Polytech High last school year, has transferred back to her home school, Lake Forest. The Panthers were state finalists in field hockey and state champions in softball.

Former Delaware football standout Bill Cubit couldn’t land the head coaching job at his alma mater when Tubby Raymond retired in 2002. But on Friday the 61-year-old former Blue Hen wide receiver became a Big 10 head coach when he was named the interim coach at Illinois.

“I want this to be my last job,” Cubit said when he was hired as Illinois’ offensive coordinator in 2012.

Delaware native Elena Delle Donne was named the winner of the July WNBA Cares Community Assist Award. In July, Delle Donne brought Matthew Walzer, a 19-year-old with cerebral palsy, to the WNBA All-Star weekend.

She also recently created the Elena Delle Donne Charitable Foundation, which supports Special Olympics initiatives and generates awareness for Lyme disease.

“The WNBA has provided me a tremendous platform to make a difference in people’s lives by raising awareness for causes that I am passionate about,” said Delle Donne.

The Delaware football team is collecting canned goods for Wilmington’s Sunday Breakfast Mission. Fans can drop off the canned goods before the Blue Hens’ season opener on Sept. 4 vs. Jacksonville.

Rapper Lil B apparently is going to try out for the Delaware 87ers, the Philadelphia 76ers’ D League team. The tryouts are being held on Sept. 19 at the New Castle Police Athletic League facility.

“tryout invite accepted see you there!! Philly here I come thanks to your front office for keeping your word – Lil,” he tweeted after the Sevens tweeted him an invitation.

Sports editor Andy Walter can be reached at 741-8227 or walter@newszap.com.

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